Check out deeds, not words or beliefs

Professed religious beliefs as a blanket judgment for a person's character is gullible. When it's used as the primary lens to define a politician, it's just plain foolish.

There hasn't been a president in the history of the United States who wasn't openly religious. And if one were to evaluate them solely on their adherence to religious doctrines, then one might judge them differently than the record of their deeds and history would.

There isn't a president who hasn't at least overlooked his belief in the 10 Commandments at some point during his term. Thou shall not kill, (or cause to be killed), and thou shall not bear false witness, come to mind.

How many times have we seen those two discarded? Ronald Reagan mentioned God in most of his speeches. He also ran illegal wars in South America for most of his two terms, and all the time, he and his cronies were lying about it. Bill Clinton violated a few commandments, too.

If our current commander in chief were to be judged purely on his ostensible belief in God, you might overlook one of the most disastrous foreign policy blunders in the history of the United States.

What someone believes has relevance to character. However, what one believes and what they actually do are often so different that it is hard to connect the two.

"Men of God" molest children, and their superiors are complicit when they turn their heads, or blatantly cover up these crimes to protect their precious church.

Narrow mindedness is the enemy of a free and open society. When the time comes to choose the next president, open your mind and consider the candidate's deeds, not their rhetoric.

Mike Wiese

St. Charles